An Ullapool visual arts centre has been awarded a year’s funding for a project to make the village a “dementia friendly community.”
An Talla Solais has been awarded £26,000 from the Life Changes Trust and The Big Lottery for the Dolphin Project.
The cash will go towards paying for a part-time coordinator who will arrange training for local businesses and organisations.
The project brings artists and those living with dementia together for art activities.
The centre also hopes that local organisations and businesses will sign up for training.
They want to show staff how to recognise dementia symptoms, communicate more easily with those affected and think about how their service or premises might become more accessible.
Anna Buchanan, Director of the Life Changes Trust’s dementia programme said: “A diagnosis of dementia can lead to social exclusion and isolation, but dementia friendly communities can help prevent this by keeping people included and supported.
“We are so pleased to be able to support the continuation and development of An Talla Solais and their arts activities through the Dolphin Project, and to ultimately support Ullapool to become dementia friendly.
Christine McCallum, NHS Dementia Link Worker for Wester Ross, said: “I hope we can ensure that people with dementia are included and listened to and treated with dignity and respect.
“Let’s not have people disappear behind their front doors fearful of being judged and losing their confidence – feeling apart from our community rather than a part of it.”